Allamakee Ecumenical Choir to present annual “Festival of Lessons and Carols” this Sunday
Mother, son to provide special music performances at Ecumenical Concert ... The mother and son tandem of Julie Knox (photo above) and Derrick Knox (photo below) will be providing special performances for the Ecumenical Concert being held this Sunday, December 10 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. Julie Knox will be featured as a harp soloist and Derrick Knox, 10-year-old son of Julie and Brian Knox of Waukon, will be a featured child soprano soloist. Julie holds a DipABRSM degree in harp performance and a LRSM degree in harp pedagogy. Music has always been a central part of her life, and during this season of life, she spends most of her time sharing her love of music with her family at home. Occasionally collaborating with others outside the home to make beautiful music is a delightful experience for her, and she enjoys teaching harp and piano students in her home. She and her husband, Brian, have six children. Derrick loves singing and sharing music with others, and he is currently performing with the La Crosse Boys Choir under director Dan Johnson-Wilmot. He wants to compose music when he grows up and likes to find fun harmonies on the piano. Derrick leads his five siblings on many adventures. Submitted photos.
The Allamakee Ecumenical Choir will present its 47th Annual Candlelight Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols Service this Sunday, December 10, beginning at 7 p.m. The service will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, located at 8 Fifth Street SW in Waukon.
Local clergy will be reading the Christmas Story and carols will be sung by the congregation with organ accompaniment. Choral numbers will also be presented by the Men’s Choir (also known as the Heartland Barbershop and Gospel Singers), Women’s Choir and the mass Ecumenical Choir. Music will also be provided by the St. John’s Handbell Choirs, Waukon High School Saxophone Quartet, along with a piano and organ duet by Kristie Roeder (piano) and James Bieber (organ).
Also, harpist Julie Knox will provide accompaniment and a harp solo. Her son, Derrick, will also be featured as a child soprano soloist with the Ecumenical Choir. The program is under the direction of James Bieber, and he is assisted by his daughter, Sarah Bieber, the Waukon Middle and High School Choral Director.
The public is invited to attend this joyous community celebration of Christmas in-person at St. John’s Lutheran Church for a truly unique Christmas Music experience. A reception will follow the concert for further fellowship.
For home viewing and listening pleasure, the service will be live-streamed on the St. John’s Lutheran Church Facebook page and can also be heard on KNEI 103.5 Radio. Tune in to KNEI Christmas Day at 12 noon for a rebroadcast of the Ecumenical Concert.
The Allamakee Ecumenical Choir presents the... 47th Annual Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols
Director/Organist: James H. Bieber; Assisted by Sarah J. Bieber and Kristie Roeder
Sunday, December 10, 2023, 7 p.m.
St. John's Lutheran Church, Waukon, Iowa
Pre-Service Music: CAROLS FROM CHRISTMAS CLASSICS, Arr.: Frank J. Halferty; Waukon High School Saxophone Quartet
Procession of Choirs & Clergy: DING DONG, MERRILY ON HIGH, Arr.: Michael Burkhardt; St. John’s Youth Bell Choir
Welcome: Rev. Bryan Robertson
Prelude: O COME, LITTLE CHILDREN, Arr.: Michael Burkhardt; St. John’s Youth Bell Choir
Congregational Carol: O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL; Choirs, Congregation and Organ
Prayer: Rev. Cathy Jurgens
The Lord’s Prayer: Rev. Bryan Robertson, Choirs and Congregation
THE CHRISTMAS STORY AND CAROLS
The Christmas Story: PART I Rev. Kenneth Kimball
Carol: PREPARE YE, Marc A. Robinson; Ecumenical Choir and Percussion with Cameron Berges, Soloist and Sarah Hagen, Descant
Carol: LULLAY MY LIKING, Gustav Holst; Ecumenical Choir with Derrick Knox, Child Soprano Soloist
The Christmas Story: PART II Rev. Grant Vander Velden
Carol: DING DONG, MERRILY ON HIGH, Arr.: Joyce Barthelson; Women’s Choir and Piano
Congregational Carol: THE FIRST NOEL; Choirs, Congregation and Organ
The Christmas Story: PART III Rev. Laura Gentry
Special Music: RING LITTLE BELLS (KLING, GLOCKCHEN), Traditional German Carol, Arr.: Jason W. Krug; GOOD CHRISTIAN MEN REJOICE (IN DULCI JUBLIO), 14th Century German Carol, Arr.: Linda Lamb; Sarah Bieber, Bell Tree Soloist; St. John’s Senior Bell Choir
Announcements: Rev. Bryan Robertson
Special Music: O HOLY NIGHT, Traditional Tune by Adolphe Adams, Arr.: McDonald/Wood; Julie Knox, Harp Soloist
The Christmas Story: PART IV Rev. Father John Moser
Carol: TODAY THERE IS RINGING, F. Melius Christiansen; Men’s Choir
Carol: RISE UP SHEPHERD, Arr.: Fenne Heath; Men's Choir with Zach Troendle, Soloist
Carol: BEFORE THE STAR, Music: Paul Loesel, Text: Marilyn Biery; Ecumenical Choir, Harp and Piano
Candlelight Ceremony: SILENT NIGHT, Arr.: Robert J. Powell; Led by Rev. Bryan Robertson, Congregation, Choirs and Harp
Prayer Rev. Kim Gates
Collect/Blessing Rev. Kim Gates
Congregational Carol: JOY TO THE WORLD; Choirs, Congregation and Organ
Postlude: CHRISTMAS FANTASY, Arr.: Clarence Kohlmann, Medley of Christmas Carols for Organ and Piano Duet; James H. Bieber, Organ and Kristie Roeder, Piano
PARTICIPATING CLERGY
Rev. Kim Gates, St. Paul’s United Methodist and Forest Mills United Methodist Churches, Waukon; Rev. Laura Gentry, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Lansing; Rev. Cathy Jurgens, Zion United Church of Christ, Waukon; Rev. Kenneth Kimball, Old East and Old West Paint Creek North American Lutheran Churches, Waterville; Father John Moser, St. Patrick Catholic Church, Waukon; Rev. Bryan Robertson, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Waukon; Rev. Grant VanderVelden, First Presbyterian Church, Waukon
ECUMENICAL CHOIR
Don Fruechte, Sara Berges, Cameron Berges, Jeff Gaunitz, Maureen Berryman, James Bieber, Jeff Goettel, Sarah Bieber, Jonathan Buhl, Gabriel Goettel, Tiffany Evans, Randy Johnsen, Zach Troendle, Eireann Goettel, Jon Payne, Dawn Teslow, Sarah Hagen, Chris Stuckman, Lois Votsmier, Linda Halverson, Kate Wooden, Vickie Larson
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH YOUTH HANDBELL CHOIR
Henley Benson, Emma Berges, Dalton Ellickson, Landon Ellickson, Lynsey Houg, Hannah Jeglum, Haylee Jeglum, Jonathan Marti, Olivia Marti, Maximus Neuzil, Sophia Palmer, Sarah Stock, Brandon Teslow
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH SENIOR HANDBELL CHOIR
Sarah Bieber, Sue Blagsvedt, Dalton Ellickson, Linda Groe, Sarah Hagen, Randy Johnsen, Vickie Larson, Carrie Niehaus, Jon Payne, Kevin Stinn, Chris Stuckman, Brandon Teslow, Sue Torkelson, Eva Urmanski
SPECIAL MUSIC
Organ: James H. Bieber; Piano: Kristie Roeder; Saxophone: Noah Evans, Eireann Goettel, Annie Ellingson, Gabe Goettel; Harp: Julie Knox; Child Soprano: Derrick Knox
The concert will be broadcast Christmas Day, December 25, at 12 p.m. on KNEI Radio (103.5 FM)
